U.S. patent number 5,576,778 [Application Number 08/312,627] was granted by the patent office on 1996-11-19 for design system for designing shapes of eyeglasses.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Paris Miki Inc.. Invention is credited to Hiroyuki Fujie, Ryuto Fujie, Kunie Takeuchi.
United States Patent |
5,576,778 |
Fujie , et al. |
November 19, 1996 |
Design system for designing shapes of eyeglasses
Abstract
A design system for designing shapes of eyeglasses. In the
system, image data expressing the face of a person are first
subjected to image processing such as color compensation and
profile emphasis. Subsequently, feature points representing the
facial features of the face are extracted, and a plurality of
horizontal, vertical and inclined auxiliary lines and auxiliary
points on the auxiliary lines are set based on the feature points.
Anchor points of a Bezier curve which defines the shapes of the
lenses and frame of the eyeglasses are then determined. The Bezier
curve is converted to data composed of polar coordinates, and the
converted data are transmitted to machine tools. Control points
provided at the anchor points are controlled based on words which
represent a desired design image for the eyeglasses. The design
system can automatically generates the shapes of the lenses and
frames of eyeglasses based on features of individuals and their
design preferences.
Inventors: |
Fujie; Ryuto (Himeji,
JP), Fujie; Hiroyuki (Kobe, JP), Takeuchi;
Kunie (Himeji, JP) |
Assignee: |
Paris Miki Inc. (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
18352142 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/312,627 |
Filed: |
September 27, 1994 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 15, 1993 [JP] |
|
|
5-342232 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
351/159.66;
33/200; 33/507; 351/159.75 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02C
13/003 (20130101); G06T 11/203 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G02C
13/00 (20060101); G06T 11/20 (20060101); G02C
013/00 (); A61B 003/10 (); G01B 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;351/177,178,159
;33/200,507 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Sugarman; Scott J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier
& Neustadt, P.C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A design system for designing shapes of eyeglasses
comprising:
means for inputting an image of a face of a person as image data to
be processed by a computer;
means for effecting image processing on said image data so that
color compensation and profile emphasis are effected;
means for extracting feature points which represent a feature of
the profile of the face and features of hair, eyebrows, eyes, nose
and mouth of the person;
wherein the feature points which represent features of the profile
of the face include points predetermined on the hairline, on the
contour line from the forehead to the cheek, and on the chin,
the feature points which represent features of the eyebrows include
points predetermined at the inner end of the eyebrow, at the top of
the eyebrow, at the tail or outer end of the eyebrow, and on a
lower edge of the eyebrow,
the feature points which represent features of the eyes include
points predetermined at the center of the pupil, on the profile
line of the iris, and on the eyelid,
the feature points which represent features of the nose include
points predetermined at the tip of the nose and at the peaks of the
wings of the nose,
the feature points which represent features of the lips include
points predetermined at the depressed center portion of the upper
lip, at both ends of the lips, and at the lower end of the lower
lip;
means for setting a plurality of horizontal, vertical and inclined
auxiliary lines and auxiliary points on said auxiliary lines, based
on said feature points, and
means for determining anchor points of a Bezier curve which defines
the shapes of lenses and a front frame of eyeglasses.
2. A design system for designing shapes of eyeglasses according to
claim 1, wherein control points provided at the anchor points of
said Bezier curve are controlled based on words which represent a
desired design image for the eyeglasses.
3. A design system for designing shapes of eyeglasses
comprising:
means for inputting an image of a face of a person as image data to
be processed by a computer;
means for effecting image processing on said image data so that
color compensation and profile emphasis are effected;
means for extracting feature points which represent a feature of
the profile of the face and features of hair, eyebrows, eyes, nose
and mouth of the person;
wherein the feature points which represent features of the profile
of the face include points predetermined on the hairline, on the
contour line from the forehead to the cheek, and on the chin,
the feature points which represent features of the eyebrows include
points predetermined at the inner end of the eyebrow, at the top of
the eyebrow, at the tail or outer end of the eyebrow, and on a
lower edge of the eyebrow,
the feature points which represent features of the eyes include
points predetermined at the center of the pupil, on the profile
line of the iris, and on the eyelid,
the feature points which represent features of the nose include
points predetermined at the tip of the nose and at the peaks of the
wings of the nose,
the feature points which represent features of the lips include
points predetermined at the depressed center portion of the upper
lip, at both ends of the lips, and at the lower end of the lower
lip;
means for setting a plurality of horizontal, vertical and inclined
auxiliary lines and auxiliary points on said auxiliary lines based
on said feature points;
means for determining anchor of a Bezier curve which defines shapes
of lenses and a front frame of eyeglasses;
means for converting information regarding said Bezier curve
representing said defined shapes to data composed of polar
coordinates; and
means for transmitting said converted data to a machine tool.
4. A design system for designing shapes of eyeglasses according to
claim 3, wherein control points provided at the anchor points of
said Bezier curve are controlled based on words which represent a
desired design image for the eyeglasses.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a design system for designing the
shapes of the lenses of eyeglasses (hereinafter referred to as
eyeglass lenses) and the shapes of the front rims of eyeglass
frames.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In the industry of manufacturing eyeglass frames, eyeglass frames
and the peripheral shape of eyeglass lenses to be fitted into the
eyeglass frames have conventionally been designed without careful
consideration of facial differences of individual consumers who
wear the eyeglasses. Therefore, standardized eyeglasses having a
uniform style have been manufactured on a large scale and
distributed to consumers via retailers.
Each individual has unique facial features as well as the
individual's own aesthetic sense and design preferences, and
therefore, designing of eyeglasses should be carried out by taking
into account of the facial features of each individual and his or
her aesthetic sense. However, in the present circumstances,
manufacturers and retailers of eyeglasses have only tried to
satisfy consumers' needs by blindly providing numerous eyeglass
frames of various designs and different sizes.
Accordingly, consumers are forced to select and purchase eyeglass
lenses and frames uniformly designed for mass production, the
designing of which is carried out without considering the facial
features of individual consumers and their aesthetic senses.
The above problem is partly caused by the production system and the
control system for machine tools used in the production system,
which are designed for manufacturing uniform products at a low
cost.
Accordingly, there remained a need for a design system for
designing shapes of eyeglasses based on personal information of
facial characteristics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved design
system for designing shapes of eyeglass lenses and the front rims
of eyeglass frames, in which the shapes are automatically designed
based on the information of facial features of respective
individuals and their desired design of eyeglasses.
Another object of the present invention is to convert design
information into control data, and to transmit the control data to
machine tools for grinding eyeglass lenses and for shaping rims of
eyeglass frames.
Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a design system for designing shapes of eyeglasses based
on information of facial characteristics, which comprises means for
inputting an image of the face of a person as image data, means for
effecting image processing, such as color compensation and profile
emphasis, on the image data, means for extracting feature points
which represent the features of the profile of the face and the
features of the hair, eyebrows, eyes, nose and mouth, means for
setting a plurality of horizontal, vertical and inclined auxiliary
lines and auxiliary points on the auxiliary lines based on the
feature points, and means for determining anchor points of a Bezier
curve which defines the shapes of the lenses and front frame of the
eyeglasses.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
design system of claim 2, wherein means for converting information
regarding values of the Bezier curve representing the defined
shapes into data composed of coordinate values in a polar
coordinate system and means for transmitting the converted data to
a machine tool are further provided.
In further aspect of the present invention, control points provided
at anchor points of the Bezier curve are controlled based on words
which represent a desired image for the eyeglasses.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various other objects, features and many of the attendant
advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as
they become better understood by reference to the following
detailed description of the preferred embodiments when considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a chart showing a profile of a face and the positions of
feature points at the center portion of the face which are required
for designing eyeglass lenses and front rims of eyeglass frames in
the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an explanatory chart for explaining the method of setting
feature points representing the features of an eyebrow;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory chart for explaining the method of setting
feature points representing the features of an eye;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory chart for explaining the method of setting
feature points representing the features of the nose;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory chart for explaining the method of setting
feature points representing the features of the mouth;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory chart for explaining the method of setting
feature points representing the features of the profile line of a
face;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory chart showing vertical auxiliary lines
drawn on the eyebrow and the eye;
FIG. 8 is an explanatory chart showing horizontal auxiliary
lines;
FIG. 9 is an explanatory chart showing inclined auxiliary
lines;
FIG. 10 is an explanatory chart showing auxiliary lines which
restrict the shapes of lenses and rims;
FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are explanatory charts showing the
method of setting anchor points;
FIGS. 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 are examples of eyeglasses designed by
a design system according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the design system; and
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the operation of the design
system.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the present invention, the image of the face of each person is
first processed by image processing technology using a computer so
that color compensation, profile emphasis, and the like are
effected. After that, feature points representing facial features
are extracted from the image. Based on the positions of the feature
points, vertical, horizontal and inclined auxiliary lines and
arbitrary auxiliary points on the auxiliary lines are set so as to
obtain anchor points of a Bezier curve which will be described
hereinafter. Using the anchor points corresponding to control
points of the Bezier curve, a basic shape is generated for
designing final shapes.
The peripheral shape of eyeglass lenses and the shape of the rim of
an eyeglass frame are constituted by curved lines. By the use of a
so-called Bezier curve, a curved line is freely formed by changing
the positions of the anchor points and control points. A curve
represented by a specific representation formula using parameters,
and proposed by Bezier is known as Bezier curve.
The term "feature point" means an arbitrary point on the profile
line of each of various portions in the captured image of a face,
and the term "auxiliary point" means an intersection between
auxiliary lines which are drawn from feature points or the like.
Each of the feature points, auxiliary lines and auxiliary points is
denoted either by a name composed of two letters of the alphabet or
a combination of a letter and a numeral.
FIG. 1 shows the profile of a face and feature points, at the
center portion thereof, which are necessary for designing eyeglass
lenses and the front rim of an eyeglass frame. For the profile of
the face, there are captured ten points which include points FA, FB
and FH representing the features of the hairline, points FI, FC, FG
and FJ representing the features of the area from the forehead to
the cheek, and points FD, FE and FF representing the features of
the chin.
Vertical auxiliary line ae connecting points FA and FE, horizontal
auxiliary line ij connecting points FI and FJ, and horizontal
auxiliary line cg connecting points FC and FG are drawn to form
intersections located at the center portion of the face. These
intersections are defined as auxiliary points FS and FK. For the
features of the hair, there is defined a point HO which is the
intersection of a vertical line passing through the center portion
of the face and a profile line representing the profile of the top
portion of the hair.
Next, there are obtained various feature points representing the
features of various portions of the face such as the eyebrow, eye,
nose and mouth. For the eyebrow, four points are captured as
feature points, as shown in FIG. 2, including point B0 at the inner
end of the eyebrow, point B1 at the top of the eyebrow, point B2 at
the tail or outer end of the eyebrow, and point B3 representing the
features of the area below the eyebrow.
For the eye, eight points are captured as feature points, as shown
in FIG. 3, including point P0 at the center of the pupil, points
P6, P7 on the profile line of the iris and points P1, P2, P3, P4
and P5 representing the features of the eyelid. The above
definition of the feature points for the eye is used for the case
in which an image is captured when the eye is opened.
For the nose, point N0 at the tip of the nose and points N1 and N2
at the peaks of the wings of the nose are captured as feature
points, as shown FIG. 4.
For the lips, six points are captured as feature points, as shown
in FIG. 5, including points M0, M1 and M5 at the depressed center
portion of the upper lip, points M2 and M4 at both ends of the
lips, and point M3 at the lower end of the lower lip.
Based on the positions of these feature points, distances among the
feature points are calculated, and auxiliary lines are drawn for
setting anchor points of a Bezier curve which will be described
hereinafter.
As shown in FIG. 6, auxiliary lines f1, f2, f3, f4, f5, f6, f7 and
f8 are drawn to successively connect the eight feature points (FI
and FJ are excluded) among the feature points on the profile line
of the face. Horizontal auxiliary line fa passing through feature
point FA and auxiliary line fe passing through feature point FE are
also drawn.
As shown in FIG. 7, the following vertical auxiliary lines m1
through m8 are drawn on the eyebrow and the eye:
auxiliary line m0 is a vertical line passing through feature point
B0 of the eyebrow;
auxiliary line m1 is a vertical line passing through feature point
P6 at the innermost edge of the iris;
auxiliary line m2 is a vertical line passing through feature point
P0 at the center of the pupil;
auxiliary line m3 is a vertical line passing through feature point
P7 at the outermost edge of the iris;
auxiliary line m4 is a vertical line passing through feature point
P3 at the outermost edge of the white of the eye;
auxiliary line m5 is a vertical line passing through a point
obtained by dividing the horizontal distance between feature point
B0 of the eyebrow and feature point P1 at the inner end of the eye
in half;
auxiliary line m6 is a vertical line passing through feature point
P1 at the innermost edge of the white of the eye; and
auxiliary line m8 is a vertical line passing through a point lying
2/3 of the horizontal distance from point P1 to point P4.
As shown in FIG. 8, the following horizontal auxiliary lines k0
through k9 are drawn:
auxiliary line k0 is a horizontal line passing through a position
which is located above feature point P0 by an amount equal to the
vertical distance, along auxiliary line m2, between feature points
P0 and P5 of the eye;
auxiliary line k1 is a horizontal line passing through feature
point P2 of the eye;
auxiliary line k2 is a horizontal line passing through feature
point P0 of the eye;
auxiliary line k3 is a horizontal line connecting feature points P5
of the right and left eyes;
auxiliary line k4 is a horizontal line passing through a position
which is located below auxiliary line k3 by an amount equal to the
vertical distance between horizontal lines k3 and k2;
auxiliary line k5 is a horizontal line passing through a position
which is located below auxiliary line k3 by an amount equal to the
vertical distance between horizontal lines k3 and k0;
auxiliary line k7 is a horizontal line passing through a position
which is located below auxiliary line k3 connecting the feature
points of the lower eyelids by an amount equal to the vertical
distance between horizontal line k3 and feature point B3 of the
eyebrow;
auxiliary line K8 is a horizontal line passing through feature
point NO at the tip of the nose;
auxiliary line K9 is a horizontal line connecting feature point M2
at the right end of the lips and feature point M4 at the left end
of the lips; and
auxiliary line k6 is a horizontal line which is located at the
vertically center position between auxiliary line k3 connecting the
centers of the pupils and auxiliary line k8 passing through the
feature point at the tip of the nose.
As shown in FIG. 9, the following inclined auxiliary lines n0
through n4 are drawn:
auxiliary line n0 is a line connecting feature point B0 at the
inner end of the eyebrow and feature point B2 at the outer end of
the eyebrow;
auxiliary lines n1 are lines drawn from the intersection FS of
horizontal auxiliary line k2 and the center vertical line ae toward
feature points N1 and N2 of the nose;
auxiliary line n2 is a line which is parallel to auxiliary line n1
and passes through anchor point AI which will be described
hereinafter;
auxiliary line n3 is a line connecting feature points B0 and B3 of
each eyebrow; and
auxiliary line n4 is a line connecting feature points B0 and B1 of
each eyebrow.
As shown in FIG. 10, auxiliary lines qr and ql are drawn for
restricting the shapes of the lenses and the rim of the eyeglass
frame. These lines restrict the maximum horizontal width of the
lenses and the rim of the eyeglass frame, and perpendicularly
intersect horizontal line fa passing through feature point FA and
horizontal line fe passing through feature point FE. Auxiliary line
qr is a vertical line located on the right side of the face, while
auxiliary line ql is a vertical line located on the left side of
the face.
The positions of auxiliary lines qr and ql in the horizontal
direction vary depending on the vertical distance between feature
points FA and FE of the face.
If the horizontal distance between lines qr and ql is defined as x
and the vertical distance between feature points FA and FE is
defined as y, then x is in the range of from y/1,414 to y/1,613.
The values of x and y within this range are determined based on the
results of judgment regarding the types of faces which will be
described hereinafter.
Auxiliary lines fa, fe and qr, ql are collectively referred to as
basic face lines.
Next, by using the feature points and the auxiliary lines
determined based on the feature points, control points of a Bezier
curve, i.e., anchor points and auxiliary points are determined for
drawing shapes of lenses and the rim of an eyeglass frame.
The positional relationships between anchor points and auxiliary
points, which are used for controlling the Bezier curve, and the
feature points of the face are determined as follows. Here, each of
the anchor points is referred to by a name composed of letters of
the alphabet. The anchor points are hereinafter defined with the
assumption that the same definition is used for the right and left
halves of the face.
As shown in FIG. 11, anchor points AA are on auxiliary line k0 and
are located at positions apart in the rightward and leftward
directions from the center vertical line of the face by a distance
obtained by multiplying the distance between feature points P1,
i.e., the distance between the inner ends of the eyes by a constant
value.
Subsequently, anchor points AB and AD are set as follows according
to the inclination of auxiliary line n3 with respect to the
horizontal.
(1) In the case where the angle between auxiliary line n3 and the
horizontal is smaller than a predetermined angle and feature point
P1 of the eye is closer to the center of the face than feature
point B0 of the eyebrow, as shown in FIG. 11, anchor point AB is
set at a position located at auxiliary line m6 and below feature
point B0 of the eyebrow by a predetermined amount, and anchor point
AD is set at the intersection of auxiliary line m4 and a line drawn
from anchor point AB parallel to auxiliary line n3.
In the case where feature points P1 and B0 share the same
horizontal position while other conditions are the same, as shown
in FIG. 12, anchor point AB is set at a position located at
auxiliary line m5 and below feature point B0 of the eyebrow by a
predetermined distance, and anchor point AD is set at the
intersection of auxiliary line m4 and a line drawn from anchor
point AB parallel to auxiliary line n3.
(2) In the case where the angle between auxiliary line n3 and the
horizontal is greater than the predetermined angle and feature
point P1 of the eye is closer to the center of the face than
feature point B0 of the eyebrow, as shown in FIG. 13, anchor point
AD is set at feature point B3, and anchor point AB is set at the
intersection of auxiliary line m6 and a line drawn from anchor
point AD parallel to auxiliary line n4.
In the case where feature points P1 and B0 share the same
horizontal position while other conditions are the same, as shown
in FIG. 14, anchor point AD is set at feature point B3, and anchor
point AB is set at the intersection of auxiliary line m5 and a line
drawn from anchor point AD parallel to auxiliary line n4.
The positions of anchor points AE and AF are determined based on
the results of the classification of faces, which is carried out by
measuring relative distances among feature points on the
above-mentioned profile line of the face, by the positions of basic
face lines defined by auxiliary lines qr and ql; and by the sex of
the person for whom a design is being carried out.
Facial types are classified into round types, long rectangular
types, rectangular types, reverse triangle types, diamond types,
full-cheeked types, long types and lemon types based on the
relative distances among feature points on the profile line of the
face.
For each of the classified facial types, anchor points AE and AF
are set at the intersections of a horizontal auxiliary line and an
arc which will be described below.
First, the radius RA of a first arc is determined to be equal to
the horizontal distance between the center vertical line ae and
auxiliary lines qr and ql.
Next, the radius RB of a second arc is determined to be equal to a
horizontal distance which is obtained by adding the distance
between feature points P0 at the centers of the right and left
pupils to the horizontal distance between the center vertical line
ae and auxiliary lines qr and ql.
Further, the center positions of the above-mentioned two kinds of
arcs, which are shown in FIG. 15, are defined as follows:
center position Q1 is a point which is on auxiliary line k0 and is
spaced from qr or ql by the radius RB;
center position Q3 is a point which is on auxiliary line k3 and is
spaced from qr or ql by the radius RB;
center position Q6 is a point which is on auxiliary line k0 and is
spaced from qr or ql by the radius RA;
center position Q8 is a point which is on auxiliary line k3 and is
spaced from qr or ql by the radius RA; and
center position Q10 is a point which is on auxiliary line k5 and is
spaced from qr or ql by the radius RA.
Anchor points AE and AF are determined for respective combinations
of facial types and sexes as follows.
Anchor points AE for a man or woman having a round face are the
intersections of auxiliary line k0 and auxiliary lines qr and ql,
and anchor points AE are the intersections of auxiliary line k4 and
an arc of the radius RB whose center is located at the center
position Q1, as shown in FIG. 15.
Anchor points AE for a man having a long rectangular face are the
intersections of auxiliary line k0 and an arc of the radius RB
having a center located at the center position Q3, and anchor
points AF are the intersections of auxiliary line k4 and auxiliary
lines qr and ql.
Anchor points AE for a woman having a long rectangular face are the
intersections of auxiliary line k0 and an arc of the radius RA
having a center located at the center position Q8, and anchor
points AF are the intersections of auxiliary line k4 and auxiliary
lines qr and ql.
Anchor points AE for a man having a rectangular face are the
intersections of auxiliary line k0 and the arc of the radius RB
centered at the center position Q3, and anchor points AF are the
intersections of auxiliary line k4 and auxiliary lines qr and
ql.
Anchor points AE for a woman having a rectangular face are the
intersections of auxiliary line k0 and the arc of the radius RA
centered at the center position Q8, and anchor points AF are the
intersections of auxiliary line k4 and auxiliary lines qr and
ql.
Anchor points AE for a man or woman having a reverse triangle face
are the intersections of auxiliary line k0 and an arc of the radius
RA centered at the center position Q10, and anchor points AF are
the intersections of auxiliary line k5 and auxiliary lines qr and
ql.
Anchor points AE for a man or woman having a diamond face are the
intersections of auxiliary line k0 and auxiliary lines qr and ql,
and anchor points AF are the intersections of auxiliary line k4 and
auxiliary lines qr and ql.
Anchor points AE for a man or woman having a full-cheeked face are
the intersections of auxiliary line k0 and an arc of the radius RB
centered at the center position Q3, and anchor points AF are the
intersections of auxiliary line k4 and an arc of the radius RA
centered at center position Q6.
Anchor points AE for a man or woman having a long face are the
intersections of auxiliary line k0 and an arc of the radius RB
centered at the center position Q3, and anchor points AF are the
intersections of auxiliary line k4 and auxiliary lines qr and
ql.
Anchor points AE for a man or woman having a lemon-like face are
the intersections of auxiliary line k0 and an arc of the radius RB
centered at the center position Q3, and anchor points AF are the
intersections of auxiliary line k4 and auxiliary lines qr and
ql.
As shown in FIG. 16, anchor points AH are placed at the
intersections of vertical auxiliary lines m8 and horizontal
auxiliary line k7 or are placed at the intersections of vertical
auxiliary lines m8 and horizontal auxiliary line k6.
Anchor points AI are placed on horizontal auxiliary line k5 of the
face and spaced from the center vertical line of the face by a
distance which is obtained by multiplying the distance between
feature points N1 and N2, i.e., the width of the nostrils of the
nose by a predetermined value.
Anchor points AJ are placed at the intersections of horizontal
auxiliary line k3 and auxiliary lines n2 which are drawn from
anchor points AI parallel to auxiliary lines n1.
The vertical and horizontal distances between these anchor points
are restricted by the distances between feature points AE and AF,
and the horizontal and vertical distances between the feature
points of the various portions of the face, such as the eye and
mouth.
For each of the anchor points of the Bezier curves, which have been
selected in the above-mentioned manner, a control point is
determined in the following manner for controlling the curvature at
each anchor point.
In the following description, the distance between an anchor point
and a control point is referred to as the "length of a whisker" of
the Bezier curve.
The length of a whisker of the Bezier curve, or the distance
between an anchor point and a control point, is made to correspond
to about sixty words including "soft", "sharp" etc. which are
conventionally used for expressing a desired image which is to be
considered in designing the shape of eyeglasses. The lengths of the
whisker are classified based on the predetermined classification
which is common to all the anchor points. Accordingly, the length
of each whisker of the Beier curve can be varied based on words
expressing a desired image possessed by the person for whom
eyeglasses are being designed so that a shape can be generated in
accordance with the image expressed by the words.
The maximum length of each whisker of the Beier curve is a distance
up to the intersection of a tangential line drawn from each anchor
point. Further, the length of each whisker at each anchor point is
adjusted using the following equation:
where the multiplying coefficient is independently determined for
each of the above-mentioned classifications. In the
above-calculation, different groups of multiplying coefficients are
prepared and selectively used for the respective anchor points. The
multiplying coefficients are also varied based on the sex of the
person for whom eyeglasses are being designed.
The direction of a whisker at each anchor point is basically the
tangential direction with respect to the shapes of lenses and a rim
to be generated, and is approximately expressed by a line
perpendicular to a line which divides the angle of the curve at
each anchor point into two equal parts. However, the direction of
each whisker is changed and adjusted based on the sex of the person
for whom eyeglasses are being designed in a similar manner as that
used in determining the length of each whisker. For example, the
direction of the whisker at anchor point AA is determined to be
vertical when the person is a man. The direction of the whisker at
anchor point AA is determined to coincide with a normal line
passing through feature point P0 of the eye when the person is a
woman.
Designs are made by the above-described procedure. Here, it is to
be noted that information expressing the designs are generated as a
function of a Bezier curve. Such information, however, is not
convenient for controlling a grinding machine for grinding lenses,
or a shaping machine for shaping the rim of an eyeglass frame.
Machine tools are generally controlled using information composed
of polar coordinates. In the case of grinding eyeglass lenses and
shaping rims, cutting tools, grinding wheels and cams are generally
controlled in accordance with information composed of polar
coordinates of two or three dimensions. Therefore, it is preferable
that the values of the Beier curve which have been obtained in the
above-mentioned procedure, be converted to polar coordinates, and
are transmitted to machine tools. This facilitates control of the
machine tools.
In the present invention, the values of the Beier curve are
converted to values representing radial distances from the center
of the boxing system of an eyeglass frame, or feature point P0 at
the center of the pupil. Thus obtained values are transmitted to
machine tools as polar coordinates so as to machine lenses and
eyeglass frames into desired shapes.
Examples of eyeglasses which are designed by the above-described
method are shown in FIG. 17 through FIG. 21. FIG. 17 shows the
shape of eyeglasses designed for a specific woman, FIG. 18 shows
the shape of eyeglasses designed for a specific man. As is apparent
from FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, different designs are generated for
different persons because the positions of feature points differ
from person to person, and each person selects different words
which express a desired image for the eyeglasses.
FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 show the shapes of eyeglasses which are
designed for the same woman. These figures show that the shape of
eyeglasses changes when different words are selected for expressing
an image of the eyeglasses. The curvatures at the anchor points
shown in FIG. 19 are different from those shown in FIG. 20. For
example, the lines between anchor points AE and AF are almost
straight in the design shown in FIG. 19, while the lines are bulged
in the design shown in FIG. 20. FIG. 21 shows a different design in
which the right half of an eyeglass frame is different form the
left half.
FIG. 22 is a block diagram of a design system according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system is
primarily composed of a CPU 10, a memory 11, interface circuits 12,
13 and 17, a video camera 14, a display 15 having a CRT, and a
keyboard 16.
The image of the face of each person is captured by the video
camera 14 and is transmitted to the CPU 10. The CPU 10 executes
processing for designing shapes of eyeglass lenses and eyeglass
frames in accordance with a control program stored in the memory
11. The designed shapes are displayed on the CRT of the display 15.
Selection of words expressing a desired image and inputting of
necessary information are accomplished using the keyboard 16.
The design system is connected to machine tools (not illustrated)
via interface circuit 17 for transmitting data composed of polar
coordinates.
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the operation of the design system
according to the preferred embodiment. Image data expressing an
image of the face is input from the video camera in step 100 and is
subjected to image processing such as color compensation and
profile emphasis in step 101. Subsequently, feature points
representing the facial features, which include feature points
representing the profile of the face and feature points
representing the features of the hair, eyebrow, eye, nose and mouth
are extracted in step 102.
In step 103, horizontal auxiliary lines, vertical auxiliary lines
and inclined auxiliary lines are set based on the extracted feature
points. In this step, auxiliary points are also set on the
auxiliary lines. Subsequently, anchor points of a Bezier curve are
determined so as to define the shapes of the lenses and frame of
the eyeglasses.
Further, words which are selected by each person and represent a
desired design image are input in step 105, and the direction and
length of the whisker at each anchor point is determined in step
106 so that control points are determined for the respective anchor
points. In step 107, coefficients of a function expressing the
Bezier curve are determined, and a shape expressed by the Beier
curve is displayed on the CRT of the display 15 in step 108. In
step 109, data expressing the Bezier curve are converted to polar
coordinates, and the converted data is transmitted to machine tools
in step 110.
In the design system according to the present invention, the shapes
of eyeglass lenses and rims of eyeglass frames are determined based
on feature points extracted from an image of the face of the
purchaser and representing the facial features of the face, and
words expressing a desired image possessed by the purchaser of the
eyeglasses. Therefore, shapes of eyeglass lenses and the rims of
eyeglass frames suitable for individual purchasers can be
automatically generated.
For each person, lines fitted for the shape of the eyebrow are
formed by setting anchor points AA, AB and AD. A line along the
profile of the face is formed based on anchor points AE and AF.
Furthermore, based on anchor point AH, the position of lenses in a
direction perpendicular to the face is determined which is fitted
for the length of the face and the configuration of the nose.
Subsequently, lines are formed along the nose based on anchor
points AI, AJ. Arbitrary lines, such as a gentle curve and a line
close to a straight line, can be automatically Generated by
controlling the direction and magnitude of a vector on the Bezier
curve based on words expressing a desired image.
The method employed in the present invention is totally different
from the conventional method in which the designs of eyeglasses are
determined by eyeglass manufacturers without considering individual
consumers. According to the present invention, the shapes of
eyeglass lenses and the rims of eyeglass frames can be designed at
an optician's shop for each person who visits the shop. Even in the
case where the salesclerks do not have a good aesthetic sense for
eyeglasses, shapes or designs suitable for each purchaser can be
arbitrarily generated.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, each purchaser can
select eyeglasses in steps which are opposite to conventional
steps. Conventionally, each purchaser must select suitable
eyeglasses from many eyeglasses displayed in a shop. On the
contrary, the system according to the present invention first
presents for each purchaser a design or shape of eyeglasses which
is suitable for the purchaser. This allows the purchaser to select
one of a plurality of ready-made eyeglasses based on the suggested
design. Therefore, the present invention is also advantageous in
the case where purchasers select ready-made eyeglasses, because the
system assists the purchasers to select designs which reflect the
facial features of individual purchasers and their desires.
In the design system according to the present invention, a Bezier
curve representing a generated free curve is converted to polar
coordinates. By controlling various machine tools in accordance
with the coordinates, eyeglass lenses and the front rims of
eyeglass frames having shapes designed for individual persons can
be manufactured. This enhances the flexibility in the manufacture
of eyeglasses.
Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is
therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described herein.
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